Station-indicator.



E. H. REYNOLDSl STATION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9.1915.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

E. H. REYNOLDS.

STATION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV; 9. 1915- 1,251,419. v Patented Dec 25, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SEEN 2.

. J; 02 l 44 i 1 J2 if? 978 o- ::i:::: :t 21:: .9 55 6:; 47 7a 48 a 7d '0 o1 f? J7 67 J8 I we? m /w 9/ 3 Z I /09 m I M I 0 99 i W m5 445i .52 86 E j (5% j a9 40 L 0 r In C 3 ta/ B97220 leis;

' -E. H. REYNOLDS.

' STATION INDICATOR. A'PPLICATIQN FILED NOV. 9. 1919. u I 1,251,419. Patented Dec. 25,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- EARLE H. REYNOLDS, 0F BLACK GREEK, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed Novembe 9: 915., Serial No. 60,567.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EARLE H. REYNOLDS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Black Creek, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station-Indicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in station indicators and is particularly adapted for use in connection with street railways and the like wherein, it is desired to announce to passengers the name of the station'or stop which is being approached by the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatically operated station indicator which is adapted to avoid the necessity of the conductor or other train otficial of calling out the name of the station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device which may be stationed at one end of a car so that the passengers within the car may readily see the name of the next station.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a car showing the same with this improved station indicator attached thereto and also illustrating the track trip mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the track trip mechanism.

Fig. 3-is a side view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of the indicator frame and mechanism mounted within the car.

Fig. 5 is a view of the motor control switch and operating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in sectionof the locking pin for the control switch.

Fig. 7 is a view of the cam wheel cooperating with the control switch.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the drive gears.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the switch controlling operatiQ i 0f the cont l switch,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 illustrates the wiring diagram of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a car of the usual construction provided with the ordinary trucks 2 which run on the rails 8 of the track &. The car 1 is provided near the central portion of its floor with a pair of longitudinally alined spaced slots 5. A suitable bracket 6 is supported centrally of the car and forms a mounting for the arm 7 which extends downwardly therefrom and into close proximity to the track 4 hereinbefore referred to. An operating bar 8 is pivoted to the arm 7 and carries at its opposite ends the rollers 9 which are slidable in the slots 10 formed in the lower ends of the arms 11, which are connected to the axle 12 of the rotary switch designated generally by the numeral 13 and best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. This switch 13 comprises the bearing members 14 in which the shaft or axle is rotatably mounted and this axle carries the drum 15 which is formed of a suitable insulating material and is surrounded by a strip of metal 16, the ends 17 of which are spaced apart to form a circuit breaker. Mounted on the bearing 14 is a strip of insulating material 18 for supporting the contact springs 19, which are adapted to bear against the periphery of the drum and when the drum is in certain positions to bear on the strip 16.

In order to move the arm 7 the track mechanism which will be more fully hereinafter described is provided and comprises a suitable bar 20, supported on the spring pressed pin 21 which extends through a suitable strip 22 supported on the upper sides of the ties. The opposite ends of the bar 20 are inclined downwardly as at 23 and secured centrally of the under side of the bar is a suitable bearing bracket 24. Journaled in the bearing bracket 24 isthe crank arm 25 which is formed at the end of the shaft 26, the inner end of which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 27 and carries a trip arm '28 which normally lies inthe position shown in Fig. 3 but when a train is passing overthe track the bar 20 is depressed, thereby causing the crank arm 25 to rotate the shaft 26 and throw the trip arm 28 into a vertical or operative position-as shown in Fig. 1, Mounted within the car on a snitable base plate 29 is a standard 30 provided with a plurality of notches 31, which are adapted to receive a suitable locking pin carried by the frame which supports the lower guide roller of the indicator. The frame 32 comprises a sleeve 33 having extei'iding outuardly therefrom a horizontal bar 3% which is braced by asuitable brace rod 35 and carries a depending arm 36 provided with a bearing bracket 37 which cooperates with the bearing bracket 38 on the sleeve in supporting the shaft 39 of the idler rolls 40. A suitable ear d1 extends upwardly from the bar 34 and forms a support for the lock ing pin eh? which is forced into engagement with the notches 31 by means of a suitable spring 43.

Surrounding the standard 30 near its up per end is a suitable sleeve having formed on one side the supporting frame consisting of a horizontal bar provided with the brace bar 4-7 and an upstanding arm 48. A suitable bearing bracket 49 is mounted at the upper end of the arm 48 and cooperates with the bearing brackets 50 on the sleeve in forming a support for the outer ends of the shafts 51 carrying the roller The opposite end of the shaft is extended and is supported in a bearing bracket 58 carried by the vertical bars 5% of the frame designated generally by the numeral 55. This bar 5% is formed integrally with the bar 56 at the upper end of the sleeve 44 and with the bar 57 at the lower end of said sleeve. This bar 57 is reinforced by an arcuate bar 58 and forms a support for the motor 59. The shaft of the motor is mounted in a suitable boss 60 carried by the sleeve 44L and this shaft supports the cylinder gear 61. Rotatably mounted in the bearing 62 car ried by the sleeve and by the vertical bar 54 is the shaft 63, which is slidable in said bearing and is rectangular in cross section. This shaft extends beyond the bar 54 and is provided with a pair of spaced latches 64: which areedapted to be engaged by the locking pin (55 which is pivotally connected to the lever 66. which in turn is pivoted as at 67 to the bar 54:. It will thus be seen that the shaft 68 may be locked in its innermost or outermost position at the desire of the user. A suitable handle 68 is formed at the outer end of the bar 68 and provides a means for the easy shifting thereof.

Mounted on the extension of the shaft 51 is a suitable pinion 69, which is adapted to mesh with either the pinion 70, which is rotatably mounted on asleeve 71 carried by the shaft 63 or to mesh with the intermeshing pinions 72 and 78 which are carried on suitable sleeves 74 mounted on the shafts 7 5, which in turn are carried in the brackets 76, which are carried by the shaft 63 and slidable therewith. It will thus be seen that the direction of rotation of the pinion .69

may be reversed by the shifting of the shaft 63 to cause the gear to be driven by either the pinion or 72.

Mounted on the shaft- 51 and adapted to rotate therewith is a cam wheel 77, the periphery 7 S of which is provided with a plurality of diametically opposed notches 79. Thesenotches are spaced from each other a distance equal to one-fourth of the length of the periphery of the wheel thereby permitting said wheel to make a quarter turn when the locking pin which will be more fully hereinafter described is released.

Taking up the detail description of the locking pin and the mechanism for supporting the same, reference will be had particularly to Figs. t and 5. A suitable bracket 80 is secured to the upper side of the bar 56 and projects upwardly therefrom and forms a support for the stem 81 of the arcuate frame 82. A. suitable supporting structure 83 is provided and extends outwardly from the brackets 80', said supporting structure joining the arcuate frame 82 and being provided at its outer end with an aperture Sat through which the locking pin is slidable. A suitable outwardly extending arm 85 is provided on the supporting frame and this arm in turn is provided. with the aperture 86 which alines with the aperture Sat and forms a bearing for supporting the locking pin in conjunction with the aperture 84. Pivotally mounted at 87 on the arcuate frame 82 is a bell crank 88 one arm of which carries an armature 89, which is adapted to be attracted by the electromagnct 90 supported on the arm 85 and this arm projects through an aperture formed in said locking pin so that when the magnet is energized the locking pin will be moved upwardly and the lower end thereof will be moved out of engagement with the notches 79 of the wheel 77. The upper terminal of the frame 82 is provided with a recess through which the pointed end of the locking pin is slidable and mounted on the upper end of said frame are the insulating blocks 91 and 92 carrying the contact springs 94 and 93 respectively. These springs are adapted to bear against the upper or pointed end of the locking pin as clearly shown in the drawing. The locking pin above referred to is designated by the numeral 95 and comprises a transversely rectangular body, the lower end of which is tapered as at 96 to engage in the notches 7 9. A suitable transverse opening 97 is formed in said pin intermediate its end for the reception of the horizontal arm of the bell crank 88. The upper end of the locking pin carries a suitable upstanding stud 98 on which an insulating block 99 is mounted which is conical as shown and is provided with an annular groove 100 in which the contact band 101 is mounted. This contact band is turn is slidable in the bracket 106 carried by the arm 83. A pair of diametrically opposed slots 10? are formed in said sleeve and extending through the rear end of the latch member and partly into the slot is a pin 108. This pin 108 is adapted to prevent the latch member from turning with relation to the sleeve as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. A suitable pin extends transversely through the latch member intermediate its ends and is adapted to form a retainer for the washer 109 against which the outer end of the-coil spring 110 abuts. The opposite end of the coil spring bears against the forward end of the sleeve and it will thus be seen that the same will normally tend to hold the latch member outwardly with relation to the sleeve. A coil spring 111 surrounds the sleeve and abuts the bracket 106 while the rear end of said coil spring abuts the retaining washer 112 which is held in place in the sleeve by a transversely extending pin. It will thus be seen that the tendency of the spring 111 is to move the latch member out of engagement with the locking pin 95 and said latch member is only forced into engagement with said pin when the electromagnet 90 is energized to move the bell crank so that its downwardly extending arm engages the rear end of the sleeve.

Referring to the wiring diagram, illustrated in Fig. 11, it will be seen that as the car passes over the track trip mechanism, the lever 7 will actuate the switch 13, thereby rotating the drum and causing the con tact plate 16 to engage the contact spring 19. The current will flow from the battery 113 through the wire 114, and plate 16, thence into the spring 19 and back through the wire 115 to one terminal of the electromagnet 90. The current will then pass through said magnet and return the battery through the wire 116, thereby energizing said magnet and attracting the armature 89, thus moving the bell crank so that its horizontal arm travels upwardly and its vertical arm outwardly. The movement of the bell crank will cause the locking pin 95 to move upwardly and will also place the spring 111 under tension so that as soon as the locking pin moves upwardly to such an extent as to bring the recess 102 therein into alinement with the latch 103, the latch will enter the opening and hold the pin against downward movement. Simultaneously with the locking of the pin in its raised position, the ring 101 will bridge the contact 93 and 94: allowing the current to pass from the battery 11.7 through the wire 118 and acrossthe contacts 93, 9t and 101 into the wire 119 and thence to the motor 59. After passing through the motorthe current will return to the battery through the wire 120, thereby driving the motor and setting the wheel 17 in rotation. The arm 7 after having passed the trip arm 28 returns to its normal position thereby returning the switch 13 to off position and discontinuing the flow of current through the electromagnet 90. It will thus be seen that the armature and bell crank will be free to return to their normal downward positions upon downward movement of the locking pin 95, and the switch ring 101 will be held in contact with the springs 93 and by the engagement of the low-er end of the locking pin with the cam faces 78 of the wheels 77 until the wheel makes a quarter turn at which time the pin willsettle into one of the notches 79, thereby locking the motor and mechanism driven thereby against movement and simultaneously breaking the circuit through said motor.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, aswitch comprising a frame, a notched disk rotatable adjacent said frame, a locking pin slidable in the frame and engaging the periphery of the disk, a contact carried by said pin, spring contacts carried by the frame for cooperation with the contact carried by the pin, an electromagnet carried by said frame, a bell crank pivoted to the frame for moving the pin vertically, an armature on said bell crank adapted to be attracted by the magnet whereby the pin will be moved, and a latch operated by the bell crank for engaging the pin and locking the same thereby holding the contact in engagement with the spring contacts.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, a motor supported in said frame, a drive shaft driven by the motor, a notched. disk mounted on said drive shaft, a frame supported on the first mentioned frame, a pin slidable through the second mentioned frame and adapted to engage the notched disk, an electromagnet mounted on the second mentioned frame, a bell crank pivoted to the second mentioned frame and adapted to lift the pin out of one of the notches in the disk to permit said disk to rotate, an armature carried by the bell crank for cooperation with the magnet whereby the bell crank is actuated, a latch actuated by the bell crank for holding the pin in raised position, contact fingers secured to the frame, and a contact carried by the pin for cooperation with the contact fingers, said fingers being connected to the motor to set the same in operation when the magnet is energized.

3. In a device of the class described, a crescent-shaped frame, an arm connected to said frame, a finger formed integrally with the frame and extending therethrough intermediate the upper and lower arms of theframe, a pin slidable through the finger and the lowermost arm of the frame, insulating blocks on the upper arm of the frame, spring contacts carried by the insulating blocks, a conical insulator mounted on the upper end of the pin, a contact carried by the pin and adapted to be slid between the spring contacts, an electromagnet supported on the intermediate arm, a bell crank pivoted to the crescent-shaped frame, the locking pin being provided with a transverse opening, one arm of the bell crank being disposed through said opening, an armature supported on said bell crank arm for attraction by the magnet, a latch carried by the lower arm of the frame, the pin being provided with an opening to receive the latch, and means cooperating with the opposite arm of the bell crank for moving said latch into the opening when the pin is moved upwardly.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER L. DAVIS, MAURICE E. HARBECK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

